Bulletin! Stop the presses! The Huffington Post has announced its list of 2017’s Top Ten Los Angeles Theatrical Productions, and high among them is TRANSITION, Ray Richmond’s hilarious tragicomedy about the first Oval Office meeting between President Barack Obama and his successor!
"Using the headline 'Democracy is a terrible thing to waste,' Ray Richmond’s hilarious reimagining of Obama turning over the White House to Trump in a private meeting is uproarious. Harry Murphy has an easy target in an orange-haired despot but it is Joshua Wolf Coleman who completely nails Obama’s speech patterns, authority and his patience.The audience delightedly finally gets to see the latter blown out of the water.”
Now how’s that for a New Year’s Eve treat? A way to head into 2018? And reason for me to leap off my lounge chair and sprint to the teletype in the middle of my round-the-world winter cruise?! TRANSITION, which sprang from the mind of renowned journalist and critic Richmond and was staged on a relative shoestring in a small theatre in Hollywood, stands alongside -- and above -- multi-million dollar productions at the Ahmanson Theatre (three of them!) and Geffen Playhouse!
TRANSITION was the world’s first theatrical response to the new Trump era. Featuring masterfully nuanced performances by Harry S. Murphy as Donnie Trump and Joshua Wolf Coleman as Obama, the play had a successful run in March and April at The Lounge Theatre in Hollywood, then returned in June as a hit of the Hollywood Fringe Festival.
Along with our own on-the-aisle review (“The political play of the year! An A+ theatrical experience! B-O-F-F-O!”), TRANSITION and playwright Richmond won plaudits like these:
“Brimming with raw, visceral energy.” -Discover Hollywood
“‘Transition’ is ingenious and as close to perfection as one can get…A small gem and a delightful night of theatre.” -Joe Straw
“The performances aren’t just Vegas impressions but get to the crux of these two men.” -L.A. Daily News
“A brilliant piece that’s well-researched, plausible and incredibly funny.” -Arts Beat L.A.
“A delicious comedy, well-paced and briskly directed.” -Theatre Notes
With TRANSITION ready to roll out in cities across the country, this latest honor is one great introduction to the future!
(And in the meantime, the show carries on as a viral sensation in the new YouTube series, The Obama Monologues.)
